Improv Planet is a community dedicated to improvisation in historic styles. Monthly memberships include instant access to the world's largest library of historic improv instructional video, with hours of new content added every month. Members learn improvisation by following in the steps of the great masters of 18th century music. Who joins Improv Planet? People from every inhabited continent. Seasoned concert artists, conservatory faculty, members of international orchestras, private piano teachers, avid amateurs, retired hobbyists, and more. While virtuosic keyboard skills are not required, you will need to read music (treble and bass clef) and know the basics of musicianship (key signatures, scales, rhythm, chords, and figured bass).

Options for Improvisers

Improvisers may take an introductory course or subscribe as members. Membership is available at three levels: Amateur, Pro, and Access.

  • NEW! “19th Century Preluding” reveals the Romantic-era art of performing improvised introductions to written piano compositions, and prepares the learner to bring this capability to the stage. Course instructor John Mortensen is internationally recognized as a concert improviser and teacher. The lessons begin by closely examining original sources including Czerny, Kollmann, Corri, Hummel, and Clara Schumann. Then the learner is invited into Mortensen’s “workshop” to watch his process as he develops preludes on familiar and unknown works from the repertoire. At the conclusion of the course, each student may submit a video performance of preluding and receive personal written commentary from Dr. Mortensen.

  • The Introduction to Historic Improvisation course consists of 25 lessons (over seven hours of instruction) introducing the basics of historic improvisation. The course was designed as college-level and will require many hours of practice. The intro course has a one-time cost, not a recurring monthly membership fee.

  • The Amateur level includes two new amateur tutorials, two new performance videos, a new Ask Me Anything, and a new Improv Challenge every month PLUS instant access to all previous videos in these categories (over 150). Also included: access to the Improv Planet Discussion Forum, updates on Dr. Mortensen's books, recordings, touring, and masterclasses.

  • The Pro level includes everything from the Amateur level PLUS two new Pro tutorials every month, the monthly "How I Did It" Improv Breakdown, and instant access to all previous videos in these categories (over 250).

  • The Access level includes everything from the Amateur and Pro levels, plus early access to all content one week prior to its regular publication.

Student Reviews

5 star rating

Historic Improvisation

Christoph Mutter

Exzellent Staff and brillant Teaching. No doubt a milestone in music education to forget the tyranny of playing the repertoire again and again and loose joy ...

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Exzellent Staff and brillant Teaching. No doubt a milestone in music education to forget the tyranny of playing the repertoire again and again and loose joy on classical music.

Read Less

Courses and Memberships:

Professor

John Mortensen

Dr. John Mortensen is a leader in the international revival of historic keyboard improvisation. Appearing frequently as concert artist, masterclass teacher, and academic lecturer in America and Europe, he is noted for his ability to improvise entire concerts. He is the author of "The Pianist's Guide to Historic Improvisation" (Oxford University Press), the world's best-selling book in the field of historic keyboard improvisation studies. His new book "Improvising Fugue" will be published in 2022 with Oxford University Press. A university music professor, he is sponsored by the US State Department's Fulbright Global Scholar program as an artistic ambassador on behalf of the American people.